Lapsed time printer



Jan. 14, 1958 R. A. DULL 2,819,939

LAPSED TIME PRINTER Filed Aug. 23, 1954 ZSheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1. n

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Jan. 14, 1958 R. A. DULL 2,819,939

LAPSED TIME PRINTER Filed Aug. 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o l. Fzg.2-

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United States Patent 2,819,939 LAPSED TIME PRINTER Raymond A. Dull,Omaha, Nehru, assignor of one-half to Lucien Pettengill, Jr., Omaha,Nebr. Application August 23, 1954, Serial No. 451,459 6 Claims. (Cl.34687) This invention relates to time recording and charge computingmachines for use in parking garages and lots where charges for parkingmotor vehicles are made by the hour and parts thereof, and in particulara meter having a plurality of card holders, in which the meter computesand stamps the charge on a card in a card holder, and in which theelements of the meter are adapted to be adjusted to compensate forchanges in rates for parking by the hour and fractions thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the chance of error incomputing charges for parking vehicles and also the possibility ofdishonest attendants appropriating portions of charges for parkingvehicles in garages and on lots and the like.

The present method is, upon entering a garage, cards are stamped withthe time. Upon leaving, cards are again stamped and the difference isfigured to give the total time which is multiplied by the rate per hour,as are also any fractions thereof, whereby the two are added together toobtain the amount of charge.

The education of attendants, particularly of parking lots, is notusually of the highest order, and even with highly educated attendants,it is difficult to estimate a charge where the rate is by the hour withso much additional for each quarter of an hour, and particularly at peakperiods, such as in rush hours, where lines of people are waiting fortheir ears, numerous mistakes are made and some of these are costly tolot and garage owners. Fur thermore, at the change of a shift, a newattendant may use a different method of computing the charge, resultingin further chance for error and confusion.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a machine having aplurality of card holders with time indicating indicia on peripheralsurfaces of drums positioned on magnetic clutches whereby lapsed timeand computed charges therefor may be printed on the cards by pressingdownwardly on the holders and wherein the elements are actuated by asynchronous motor timer in combination with solenoids actuated thereby.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a meter forparking lots, garages or equipment-renting services, as well as job timerecording for separate operations within manufacturing plants oremployee time cards.

Another object of the invention is to provide a meter for vehicleparking garages and lots in which one meter is adapted for use ingarages regardless of size or the number of vehicles adapted to beparked therein, the meter being adapted to have additional card holderunits added thereto, and all of the card holder units being adapted tobe actuated by a single synchronous motor timer.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a lapsed timeprinter and charge computing parking meter for use in garages, parkinglots, and the like, in which means is provided for adjusting thecomputing elements to compensate for changes in rates.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lapsed time printerand charge computing meter for use in parking lots, garages and the likein which the device is adapted to be actuated by unskilled attendants.

A still further object is to provide an improved machine for indicatingtime and calculating charges for parking vehicles in garages, parkinglots, and the like, in which the machine is of a simple and economicalconstruction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view ICC the lapsed timeprinter of this invention includes a single synchronous motor timer thatdelivers a repetitious fixed time impulse which is conveyed mechanicallyto time accumulating devices in which the number of cycles, the lengthof time sequence, and the number of cards that can be handled areunlimited.

The timing operations of the meter of this invention allows theadjustment of time cycles, rates, or other characteristics of each unitindependently, or any multiple of this impulse can be accumulated forthe desired time interval, and, therefore, the accumulated interval canbe recorded on one, several, or on all units, or cards of the units,simultaneously, and furthermore, any accumulated record can be removedwithout effecting the sequence of the other units.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved parking meter with aportion of the wall on the near side of the housing broken away showingthe synchronous motor, solenoid, and manually actuated adjusting switchin the upper part, and a card holder and printing wheel or drum in theintermediate part.

Figure 2 is a plan view looking downwardly upon the upper end of themeter showing the motor, solenoid, and ratchet assembly.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing an intermediate part of themeter with upper and lower ends and part of the front wall broken awayshowing the card holders and magnetic clutches.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the abovereferred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely forthe purpose of illustration, and that various changes in constructionmay be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that theinvention may be utilized to the best advantage according tocircumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from thespirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only inaccordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated theprimary held of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it maybe employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, thesame reference characters are used to designate the same parts andelements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the inventionin its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a synchronous motor, numeral 14 asolenoid, numeral 16 a micro-switch actuated by the motor and adapted toenergize the solenoid, numeral 18 a button of a manually actuated switchfor advancing time indicating elements in case of current interruptions,numeral 20 card holders pivotally mounted in the housing, numeral 22drums having bands 24 with numerals 26 thereon on the peripheralsurfaces thereof, and numeral 28 a ratchet wheel actuated by thesolenoid and adapted to operate the drums through a vertically disposedshaft 30, worms 32, worm gears 34, and magnetic clutches.

The motor 12 is mounted on a vertical panel 36 of an L-shaped brackethaving a base 38 and, as shown in Figure l, the shaft 40 of the motorextends through the panel 36 and the extended end of the shaft isprovided with a cylindrical cam-knob 42 having a slot 44 therein. Theslot is positioned to receive a flange 46 of a spring arm 48 extendedfrom the micro-switch 16 whereby each time the flange drops into theslot the switch is actuated.

The micro-switch 16 is provided with terminals 50 and 52, the terminal50 being connected by a wire 54 toone terminal of the solenoid 14through an opening 56 in the panel 36, and the terminal 52 beingconnected to one side 3 of a battery or other source of electric currentas indicated by the numeral 58 with wires 60- and 62, and the oppositeside of the battery, or source of current, being connected to thesolenoid by wires 64 and 66. The wires 62 and 64. also connect theterminals of the motor 12 to the source of electric current.

The terminal 50 of the micro-switch is also connected to a terminal 68of a switch 70 which is actuated by the button 18 with a wire 72 and theterminal 52 is connected by a wire 74 to the opposite terminal 76 of theswitch 70. The switch 70 is mounted on a vertically disposed leg 78 of abracket 80 and the switch is positioned to be actuated by a finger orrod inserted through an opening 82 in a front wall 84 of an enclosinghousing having a rear wall 86, sidewalls 88 and 98, a top 92, ahorizontally disposed platform 94 on which the base 38 is positioned,and vertically spaced elements 96 carried by horizontally positionedchannel bars 98 and 100 which are arranged in tiers. The button 18 isfreely slidable in a bushing 102 that is secured in the leg 78 with anut-104.

The solenoid 14 is provided with a spring actuated core 106', the springbeing positioned to urge the core outwardly, as shown in Figure 2, andthe extended end of the core is pivotally connected to a lever 188 witha pin 110. The lever 108 is pivotally mounted on a post 112 extendedfrom the base 38 and a pawl 116 also pivotally mounted on the post 112is positioned to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 28 to preventrotation of the ratchet wheel in a counter-clockwise direction from theposition shown in Figure 2. The tooth at the end of the pawl is retainedin engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring 118, oneend of which is held in an opening 120 in the pawl and the other beingpassed through a hole 122 formed through an extension 124 at one side ofthe lever- 108. The lever 103 is also provided with a dog 126 which ispivotally mounted on the extended end thereof with a pin 1-28 and thedog is provided with a tooth 130 that is also retained in engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet wheel 28 by the said spring 118 which,being passed through the hole 122 is extended to an opening 132 in thedog 126. Each time the solenoid 14 is energized the lever 108 is movedin a clockwise direction whereby the ratchet wheel 28 is also advancedin a clockwise direction by the dog 126.

As shown by Figure 2 an upright post 133', threadedly carrying a screwbolt 134 is integrally formed with the base 38 with the screw boltextended toward the lever 108 and held by a nut 135, thereby providingan adjustable limit stop for movements of the said lever and solenoidcore 106.

It will be noted in Figure 3 of the drawings that the shaft 30 extendsvertically downward from the ratchet wheel 28, and has secured thereonthe worm 32, and it will be noted that the worm 32 coacts with a wormgear 34 to rotate a shaft 136.

It will be understood that a plurality of worms 32, worm gears 34 andshafts 136, and their adjunct parts, are employed, and all are similarin construction, and therefore, but one will be described herein.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the card holder 20, which ischannel-shaped in cross section, and which is positioned with flanges atthe edges extended downwardly is pivotally mounted on a shaft 148, andthe card holder 20 is urged upwardly to the position shown in full linesin Figure 1, by a spring 150, the upper end of which is connected to anarm 152 which extends from the holder 20, and the lower end of thespring 150 is secured to a stud 154 which is mounted on the side wall ofan element housing 96. The ticket 137 is retained in the holder 20 by aspring 156, the inner end of which is secured to the holder by means ofrivets 158, or the like. The outer end of the spring 156 is providedwith a lip 160 to facilitate the insertion of the ticket into the holder20.

The extended end of the card holder 21 is also provided with a guide162, which extends upwardly, as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

It will be noted in Figure 1 of the drawings, that an arm 164 extendsdownwardly from one of the flanges of the card holder 20, and ispivotally connected to an offset lever 166 by a pin 168. The lower endof the lever 166 is pivotally connected to an L-shaped bar 172 by afurther pin 170. The lower end of the L-shaped bar 172 is pivotallyconnected to the element housing 96 by a further pin 174. The upper endof the L-shaped bar 172 is pivotally connected to an inking roller 176,the peripheral edge of which is covered with felt or other ink-carryingmaterial which normally bears against the characters on the surface ofthe band 24 during times when the drum 22 is rotated, thereby inking thecharacters on the band 24. Upon depressing the card holder 29 from thefull line position, shown in Figure 1, to the broken line position,shown in Figure l, the levers 166 and 172 cause the inking roller 176 tomove to the broken line position away from the band 24, as shown inFigure 1, of the drawings.

The drum 22 is provided with an arm 138 which is positioned to engage astop 148 at desired times. The arm 138 is secured to a flange 228 of amagnetic clutch to be later described. The arm 138 is normally urged andheld against the stop 148 by a spring 142. One end of the spring 142 isheld in an opening 146 in an arm 138 and the other end of the spring 142is secured in an offset section 144 of the element housing 96. it willbe understood that upon rotation of the drum in a counter clockwisedirection, the spring 142 becomes extended, and thereby put in tension.Upon removal of the ticket 137, and subsequent operations, as will belater described, the arm 138 and the spring 142 return the drum to itsoriginal position indicated in Figure l of the drawings.

A magnetic clutch 258 is employed, and the clutch, which is now to bedescribed, includes a hub 218 secured to the shaft 136 by means of a setscrew or the like 220. The hub 218 is provided with a cylinder 222 and,as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the cylinder 222 is constructed soas to receive therein a sleeve 224.

The sleeve 224 is provided with an annular groove 226 wherein the drum22 and a plate 230 are retained, and it will be understood that theplate 238 is preferably made of cast iron or the like, so as to beattracted by a magnetic field. A flange 228 is provided on the sleeve224 and forms the outer wall of the annular groove 226, and it will beunderstood that the arm 138 is attached thereto.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be further noted that thehub 218 includes a cup-shaped casing 240, and the casing 248 is rigidlysecured thereto. Mounted between the inner walls of the cup-shapedcasing 240 and the outer walls of the cylinder 222 of the hub 218, is amagnetic coil 182, and it will be understood that the magnetic coil 182is rigidly held therebetween.

Secured to the hub 218 and to the cup-shaped casing 240 is a disc ofinsulating material 238, and secured to the disc of insulating material238 by rivets or the like 236, is a contact ring 234-. The contact ring234 is preferably made of copper or some other equally conductivematerial.

It will be further noted in Figure 3 of the drawings, that a hollowrivet 242 extends through the wall of the casing 240 and disc 238, andthat a contact wire 244 extends through the rivet and connects to thecoil 182, the other end of the wire 244 being secured to the contactring 234. The other terminal of the coil is grounded through thecylinder 222, the hub 218, and the shaft 136.

At times when electrical energy is imparted through a brush 190, to belater described, to the contact ring 234, to the magnetic coils 182, anelectromagnetic field is established, and the said field exerts amagnetic force which attracts the plate 230 and secures the plate 230tightly against the cylinder 222 and the casing 240, therebycausing thedrum 22 and its adjunct parts to rotate in exact relation with the shaft136, until the electrical energy going to the magnetic coils 182 isterminated.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that at timeswhen a card, ticket or the like 137 is in serted into the card holder20, the leading edge of the ticket 137 strikes and causes to operate anarm 178 of a micro-switch 188. The micro-switch 180 is provided withterminals 184 and 186, and it will be noted in Figure 1 of the drawings,that a wire 188 extends from the terminal 184 to a lug 198 of a brush190.

It will be noted that a further wire 192 extends from the terminal 186to a bar 194 mounted in a block of insulating material 196. The bar 194extends through the block 196 and into a receptacle 200 mounted on achannel bar 202, which is carried between the side walls of the housing.It will be understood that one of the receptacles 200 is provided foreach of the card holder and printing units herein described, and thatthe bar 194 makes contact with a terminal 204 and said terminal 204 isconnected by wire 206 to a source of electrical current such as abattery 208. The opposite terminal of the battery 208 is connected toground by means of a wire 210. The element housing 96 is also connectedto ground such as by the wire 212.

It will be further noted in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings that the arm178 extends upwardly through an opening 216 in the card holder 20 andassures contact therewith by the ticket 137.

The immediately foregoing description is the means by which electricalenergy is imparted to the magnetic clutch heretofore described.

The computing elements are adapted to be adjusted to compensate for ratechanges as the band 24, which carries the characters to be imprinted onthe card 137, and which is mounted on the perimeter of the cup-shapeddrum 22, is adapted to be removed and replaced by another band having adifferent set of characters thereon.

Operation In conjunction with automobile parking or the like, a card orticket is used which is so constructed that it may be readily separatedinto three portions, each portion having a like identifying numeralimprinted thereon. The card or ticket is severed, one portion thereofcomprising the claim check to be held by the owner of the automobile;another portion to be attached to the windshield, or the like, of anautomobile for the purposes of identification; and the third portionnumbered 137 in the drawings is inserted into the instant device. Itwill be understood that the portion 137 will have but one impressionprinted thereon by the instant device, and that printing is made at thetime the owner of the automobile comes to reclaim his car. The operatorinserts the ticket portion 137 into the card holder 20 until the end ofthe ticket 137 strikes the arm 178 of the micro-switch 180, therebyallowing electrical current to flow from the receptacle 200 through thebar 194, wire 192, through the micro-switch 180, through the wire 188 tothe lug 198 of the brush 190, thereby causing the brush 190 to becomeenergized. It will be understood that the ticket 137 remains tightlyabutted against the arm 178 at all times, due to the action of thespring 156 which has sufiicient resiliency to maintain the ticket 137 ina stable position until the operator stamps and removes the ticket 137by force.

At the time the arm 178 is caused to operate and electrical energyimparted to the brush 19%), the current passes through the brush 190 toand through the contact ring 234, through the contact wire 244 to themagnetic coil 182, thereby energizing the magnetic coil 182 andattracting and holding the plate 230 and the drum 22 tightly against thecup-shaped casing 240 and the cylinder 222, and since the cylinder 222and the hub 218 are formed of one piece of material, and since the hub218 is secured to the shaft 136 by means of the set screw 220, the partsheretofore described will be caused to rotate in direct relationshipwith the shaft 136, and since the contact ring 234 is secured at allpoints to the casing 240, constant contact is maintained between thecontact ring 234 and the brush 190, thereby allowing for electricalenergy to be imparted to the coils 182 during operation.

Since the shaft 136 has attached on one end thereof, the worm gear 34,and since the worm gear 34 revolves in relationship to the worm 32 whichis secured to the shaft 30, and since the shaft 30 is secured to theratchet wheel 28, the foregoing parts will be caused to operate orrotate in direct relationship with one another.

it will be understood that the synchronous motor 12, employed, is of thetype which makes one complete revolution per minute, and since the cam42 mounted on the shaft 40 of said motor is provided with a slot 44, inwhich a spring arm 48 from a micro-switch 16 is caused to seat said slot44 once every minute, it will be understood that the micro-switch 16will be actuated once every minute, and in this manner a solenoid 14,having a core 106 mounted therein, will actuate the core 106 by pullingsaid core inwardly into the solenoid, thereby advancing the ratchetwheel one notch every minute by means of the lever 108 and dog 126. Inthis manner the shaft 30 is caused to rotate slightly every minute, andthis rotation of the shaft 30 is transferred to the shaft 136 and inturn to the magnetic clutch, drum 22, and their adjunct parts, wherebylapsed time is transferred from the synchronous motor 12 to the drum 22and band 24.

It will be understood that the band 24 is so designed as to indicate acost for expired time rather than the lapsed time in minutes or hours.In other words, the band 24 has an initial numeral thereon which readsaccording to the rate of charge for an initial period of parking, suchas an hour, and it will be understood that this same figure will berepresented on the band 24 until an hours lapsed time has passed withrespect to the rotation of the shaft 136, at which time the numerals onthe band 24 will change to include the additional cost for the nextperiod of time, and will change accordingly as time lapses.

At the time the customer calls for his automobile, the operatordepresses the card holder 20, this being the only time the card holderis depressed, and upon depressing the card holder, the underside of theticket 137 strikes the inked band 24 containing the numerals indicatingthe charge, and imprints said numerals on the underside of the ticket137, whereupon the operator then allows the card holder 20 to raise andremoves the ticket 137 from the card holder, thereby releasing the arm178, thereby shutting off the electrical current to the magnetic clutchand allowing the action of the spring 142 on the arm 138 to return thedrum 22 to its initial position preparatory to the insertion of a newticket 137.

It will further be understood that in instances where current supply hastemporarily been interrupted due to failure of power or the like, theoperator may advance the mechanism by hand to compensate for the losttime by inserting a pencil or other object through an opening 82 in thefront wall 84 and pushing in on the button 118 for manually operatingthe solenoid 14 and advancing the shaft 30 and ratchet wheel 28 oneminute at a time.

In cases of increased or decreased rates for parking, it will beunderstood that the operator may change said rates by removing the band24 from the drum 22 and replacing the old band with one having the newschedule of rates.

The synchronous motor timer referred to in this application may be suchas or similar to the motor type B3 described on page 6 of the catalogentitled Synchronous Motors, of the Telechron Department of the GeneralElectric Company, Ashland, Massachusetts.

The micro-switch 16 is such as or similar to the switch Model BZ-ZRLdescribed on page 17 of the Micro PreiSiOu Switch catalog, number 82, ofthe Micro Switch Division of the Minneapolis-Honeywell RegulatorCompany, of Freeport, Illinois.

The solenoid 14 is such as or similar to the solenoid, Model #ZACdescribed inside of the cover page of the solenoid catalog folderpublished by the Guardian Elec tric Manufacturing Co., of Chicago,Illinois.

And the micro-switch 180 is such as or similar to the Tyni Switch asmanufactured by the Tyni Switch Company, of Forestville, Connecticut.

With the parts designed and assembled in this manner a card, includingthree sections or tickets is provided as a vehicle enters a garage,parking lot, or the like. With each section having the same numberprinted thereon, one section is taken by the car owner, one sectionplaced in the vehicle, and the third section retained in the machine.Upon returning for the vehicle, the section held by the owner of thevehicle is handed to an attendant whereby that card holder in which thesection of the same numbered card remaining in the machine is positionedis depressed and the length of time and amount of the charge stampeddirectly thereon. By this means any chance of mistake is substantiallyeliminated.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that theinvention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for whichit has been designed and in an economical manner, and that itssimplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide arelatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish andthat it will find an important place in the art to which it appertainswhen once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthly description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details and parts, such ascome within the purview of the inven tion claimed, may be resorted to,in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new anddesired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A parking meter comprising a card holder, a drum having characters onthe peripheral surface, a shaft for rotatably mounting the drum wherebythe drum is positioned with the peripheral surface adapted to be engagedby a card in the card holder, a magnetic clutch positioned in the drum,a pawl and ratchet assembly operatively connected to the shaft forrotating the shaft, a solenoid for actuating the pawl, a synchronousmotor for energizing the solenoid, and means for energizing the magneticclutch by a card positioned in the card holder to actuate the drum bythe shaft to correspond with periods of time, said card holder beingadapted to be pressed against the. surface of the drum wherebycharacters on the drum are adapted to be printed on a card in theholder.

2. A vehicle parking meter comprising a card holder, a drum havingindicia on the peripheral surface, a shaft for rotatably mounting thedrum whereby the peripheral surface is positioned to be engaged by thecard holder,

cans for pivotally mounting the card holder whereby upon depressing theholder a card therein is adapted to engage indicia on the drum, meansfor inking indicia on the drum, a magnetic clutch positioned in thedrum, a pawl and ratchet assembly operatively connected to said shaftfor rotating the shaft, a solenoid for actuating the pawl, a synchronousmotor for actuating elements to energize the solenoid, and means forenergizing the magnetic clutch to actuate the drum by the shaft atregular time tioned in the. drum for operatively connecting the drum tothe shaft, means for pivotallymounting the card holder whereby upondepressing the holder 2. card therein is adapted to engage the indiciaon the surface of the drum, means for inking the indicia on the drum, asolenoid, a synchronous motor for intermittently energizing thesolenoid, and a ratchet and pawl assembly actuated by the solenoid andoperatively connected to the means for energizing the magnetic clutch asa ticket is placed in the card holder for causing the drum to rotatewith the shaft for advancing the drum in relation to periods of time.

4. A vehicle parking meter comprising a card holder, a drum havingindicia on the peripheral surface, a shaft on which the drum isrotatably mounted, means for piv otally mounting the card holder wherebya card therein is adapted to engage the indicia on the surface of thedrum, means for inking the indicia on the drum, a magnetic clutchpositioned in the drum, a ratchet wheel operatively connected to theshaft for rotating the shaft on which the drum is mounted, pawlspositioned to engage the ratchet wheel, a solenoid operatively connectedto saidpawls, a micro-switch operatively connected to the solenoid, amotor, means for intermittently actuating the micro-switch by the motor,and a micro-switch carried bythe card holder and adapted to be actuatedby a card placed in the holder for completing a circuit to the magneticclutch in the drum for connecting the drum to the shaft to advance thedrum.

5. in a meter for parking lots, garages, and the like, the combinationwhich comprises a plurality of card holders, drums having indicia on theperipheral surfaces thereof, means for pivotally mounting the cardholders whereby upon depressing the holders cards therein are adapted tocontact the indicia on the surfaces of the drums, shafts upon which thedrums are rotatably mounted, magnetic clutches positioned in the drumsfor operatively connecting the drums to the shafts, a ratchet and pawlassembly operatively connected to said shafts, a solenoid operativelyconnected to the ratchet and pawl assembly, a motor, means forintermittently energizing the solenoid by the motor, and means forenergizing the magnetic clutches in the drums for advancing the drums asthe card holders are depressed.

6. In a motor vehicle parking meter, the combination which comprises aplurality of card holders, drums having indicia on the peripheral.surfaces, means for pivotally mounting the card holders whereby upondepressing the holders cards therein are adapted to contact indicia onthe surfaces of the drums, means for inking the indicia on the drums asthe card holders are depressed, shafts upon which the drums arerotatably mounted, magnetic clutches positioned in the drums foroperatively connecting the drums to the shafts, micro-switches carriedby the card holders for energizing the magnetic clutches to operativelyconnect the drums to the shafts as the card holders.

are depressed, resilient means for returning the card holders tostarting positions, a ratchet wheel and pawl assembly operativelyconnected to the shafts for rotating the shafts upon which the drums aremounted, a solenoid having a core, means operatively connecting the coreof the solenoid to the pawls for actuating'the ratchet wheel, amicro-switch connected to the solenoid, a motor, mechemical means forintermittently actuating the microswitch by the motor, a manuallyactuated switch for actuating the micro-switch, and a suitable housingin which the parts are mounted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS803,888

